Tensions in Minneapolis erupted once again on Wednesday night after a federal immigration officer shot a man during an enforcement operation, sparking immediate protests in a city still raw from the fatal shooting of a woman by an agent just days earlier.
Shooting and Immediate Fallout
The incident occurred around 7pm local time in north Minneapolis. According to a statement from the Department of Homeland Security posted on X, officers were conducting a targeted traffic stop on an undocumented individual from Venezuela when the situation escalated. The DHS claimed the target resisted and attacked, and that two others emerged from a nearby apartment to also assault the officer, who then fired a defensive shot.
The city of Minneapolis confirmed a man was shot and taken to a local hospital with apparent non-life-threatening injuries. However, the Guardian has not independently verified the DHS account of events. This caution follows the killing of Renee Nicole Good on 7 January, where DHS claims she attacked an agent were seemingly contradicted by video evidence showing her driving away.
Protests and Aggressive Policing
Within hours, several hundred protesters gathered at the scene, facing off against federal agents who blocked the area. Law enforcement deployed tear gas, pepper balls, and smoke for crowd control. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara, in a late-night news conference, said protesters were engaging in unlawful behaviour and urged them to disperse.
Mayor Jacob Frey delivered a stark message, condemning ICE conduct as disgusting and intolerable but also pleading for calm. He stated, We cannot counter Donald Trump’s chaos with more chaos, asking those gathered to go home.
Amid the chaos, multiple aid groups reported that a pregnant woman needing medical attention was unable to access a doctor. Chief O'Hara said he could not confirm if a pregnant person was hurt, but confirmed emergency services responded to a call from a woman in the raid's building basement suffering an anxiety attack.
A City Under Siege and a Call to Action
This shooting occurs as part of what the Trump administration calls the largest operation in DHS history, with approximately 3,000 immigration officers active or deploying in Minnesota. The massive, militarised presence has transformed daily life, with residents organising patrols, legal aid, and food deliveries for those afraid to leave home.
In a powerful address earlier on Wednesday, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz urged citizens to document ICE actions. Armed, masked, undertrained ICE agents are going door-to-door, he said, calling it a campaign of organised brutality. He encouraged Minnesotans to carry your phone at all times to bank evidence for future prosecution and accountability.
The situation leaves Minneapolis at a boiling point, caught between aggressive federal enforcement and a community mobilising for protection and protest, with the shadow of Renee Nicole Good's death looming large over every new incident.
